Tottenham Hotspur

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham finished just two points above the relegation zone last season and could have gone down without some clinical finishing up front making up for some poor goalkeeping at the back.

As remarkable as it sounds given that they finished 17th and nine sides had a better shot-conversion rate, Tottenham were actually the best finishers in the Premier League, scoring eight goals more than expected given the number and quality of their shots.

That's because only relegated Burnley created worse chances on average than Spurs, so the fact they ranked 10th for converting them was impressive.

Tottenham's underlying defensive numbers weren't actually that bad, as they ranked ninth for both shots faced and xG against.

But keeper Guglielmo Vicario was the worst shotstopper in the league, letting in 5.5 more goals than he arguably should have given the shots that he faced.

With new signings, the return from injury of James Maddison and Vicario now on loan to Juventus, Spurs fans will hope their side can put their creativity and goalkeeping problems behind them this season.

Tottenham are eyeing a move to sign France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, 29, from Crystal Palace. (Football Insider), external

Bayer Leverkusen's Burkina Faso centre-back Edmond Tapsoba, 27, has emerged as a leading defensive target for Tottenham, Manchester United and Newcastle. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Image source, Getty Images

In the Premier League last season, 13 of the 20 teams finished with between 40 and 60 points - the most in an English top-flight campaign since 2003-04 (also 13).

Was the Premier League so competitive in 2025-26 because the quality of the 'lesser' teams got better or the top teams got worse? It is hard to know for sure.

Given how savvy clubs like Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth are, the vast amounts of money that enable even bottom-half sides to sign the best talent from abroad and the Premier League's current dominance of the Europa League and Conference League, it would seem to be the former.

However, the fact that promoted play-off winners Sunderland were able to finish above 13 teams in their first season back suggests the league was maybe not as strong as we think.

What we do know is that whether because they got worse or their opponents got better, four of the sides that finished in the top seven in 2024-25 - champions Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest - took 79 points fewer between them last season.

While Forest's decline was perhaps expected given their incredible seventh-place finish in 2024-25 and their journey to the Europa League semi-finals last season, the others were far more surprising.

Sunderland and Leeds smashed the recent run of promoted sides struggling to compete by taking 64 more points than the teams they replaced in the top flight.

As a result, this season will be a bit of an upside-down one in that Bournemouth, Brighton and Sunderland have European campaigns to navigate while Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle do not.

Will we therefore see a bounce-back to the more 'traditional' order in 2026-27 or are we truly entering a new, fiercely-competitive era of the Premier League?

Read more on the Premier League's competitiveness

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Tottenham's interest in a double deal for Manchester City forwards Savinho and Omar Marmoush.

Here are some of your comments:

Doug: Yes, I'm 100% happy with both Savinho and Marmoush from City. Both are great players and Roberto de Zerbi will get the best out of them. At Spurs, they will be the main players for their positions, so being in the team as regular starters will only improve them as well. We need it done as soon as possible.

Mithras: Both Savinho and Marmoush are big left-winger upgrades for us. Do I want both? Not really. Why would we want both of them and Cody Gapko too? Come on, be serious for moment please!

Chloe: Savinho isn't worth it. Bring in Marmoush, Gakpo and Georges Mikautadze and we are done for the summer.

Ian: I don't think these two are worth £150m between them. The reason is their records just aren't good enough. Don't get me wrong, we do need some strikers, but for £150m you can find teams with better players.

James: Both have been flops at City, so why would we pay big fees for them? It is a pass from me, unless Spurs can sign them for, say, £40m each. We shouldn't want to fund their upgrades while we try to revive their careers.

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham's 1961 Double-winner Terry Dyson has died at the age of 91.

Spurs have paid tribute Dyson, who made 209 appearances and scored 55 goals for the club across a 10-year spell.

The forward was a key figure in Bill Nicholson's 1960-61 side who were the first English team in the 20th Century to achieve a First Division and FA Cup double.

One of his defining moments occurred two years later when he scored twice in a 5-1 victory over Atletico Madrid to secure European Cup Winners' Cup success.

"The club is extremely saddened to learn of the passing of our former player Terry Dyson at the age of 91," a Tottenham statement read.

"Our deepest condolences are with Terry's family and friends at this incredibly sad time."

Dyson remains the only Tottenham player to score a hat-trick against north London rivals Arsenal - at the start of the 1961-62 campaign.

After his spell at Spurs, Dyson also played for Fulham, Colchester and Guildford.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Tottenham are in talks with Manchester City over a double deal for forwards Savinho and Omar Marmoush.

Sources have told BBC Sport that negotiations between the clubs are progressing, although an agreement is yet to be reached.

Spurs' interest in Brazilian winger Savinho dates back to 2025, when the 22-year-old opted to remain at Etihad Stadium, but he was limited to just seven starts in the Premier League last season and he is now minded to leave the club.

Marmoush fell out of favour under Pep Guardiola in 2025-26 and the 27-year-old has managed eight goals in 36 appearances in all competitions.

City's valuation for the pair is unclear, but the club would expect to make a significant profit on both.

Would you like to see the pair at Tottenham this season? Where would they fit in Roberto de Zerbi's plans?

Get in touch with your views here

Last season: 17th.

This season: 7th.

New-ish manager. New ambition. The purse strings have been loosened at Spurs this summer, so there are no excuses for a repeat of last season's shambles, when Roberto de Zerbi - their third manager of the season after Thomas Frank and, briefly, Igor Tudor - kept them up on the final day.

De Zerbi's fierce ambition has been backed big time, so optimism is running high.

Andrew Robertson is a smart signing on and off the pitch, while Marcos Senesi is another good deal on a free transfer from Bournemouth.

The big money has been spent in midfield, with Sandro Tonali in for £100m from Newcastle United and Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United for £85m.

Jan Paul van Hecke cost £52m from Brighton to offset the loss of captain Cristian Romero - will he really be missed? - from central defence. Djed Spence has also left for Inter Milan.

Micky van de Ven has committed his future, so it all looks good for Spurs.

At least it does right now.

• Read more of Phil's predictions

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Image source, Getty Images

Teams in the bottom half of the Premier League in 2025-26 finished with more points than they had in years, meaning that judging them simply by their position in the table is perhaps a little harsh.

Everton may have been underwhelmed with their 13th-place finish but it was the most points a team in that position had finished with since the Toffees themselves in 1999-2000.

The points of the four places below them were all the highest they have been in the Premier League for 23 years and West Ham can consider themselves unlucky to have gone down with the highest points total for an 18th-placed side since 2010-11.

However, competition has come at a cost.

One place where the Premier League has become less competitive - because it has become more fiercely-contested overall - is at the very bottom.

While it is almost expected for one side to be cut adrift long before the end of the season, nowadays two sides are getting left behind.

The average points tally of the second-bottom side in a 38-game season is 31, meaning teams that finish there have usually competed in a relegation battle for most of the season before ultimately falling short.

After the Premier League was reduced to 20 teams in 1995-96, only two 19th-placed sides failed to reach 30 points in the first 21 seasons. But in the past decade, seven of the 10 sides to finish in that position have failed to do so.

In the past two seasons, promoted sides Ipswich and Burnley have both finished there with just 22 points - the fewest ever taken by a second-bottom side.

Relegation battles are now mostly a fight to see who takes the final spot in the bottom three, with the other two accounted for long before the final day - often by promoted sides.

But inspired by the survival of Sunderland and Leeds, promoted trio Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City will all be hoping they have what it takes to match the competitiveness of the Premier League this season.

Read more on the Premier League's competitive numbers

Tottenham are in talks to sign both Brazil winger Savinho, 22, and Egypt forward Omar Marmoush, 27, from Manchester City. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Umir Irfan
Football tactics correspondent, speaking on the BBC's Football Daily podcast

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When you look at Roberto de Zerbi, his first stint at Brighton was something that was very transformative to the Premier League.

Many of the coaches adopted his baiting-style of build-up and his idea to punch the passes through the middle of the pitch really quickly.

What we have seen in pre-season is an adaptation and a focus on building upon what he did at the end of last season, which is a more simplistic view.

But he did not come in and simply try to shut up shop and get easy points, he looked to build out from the back and use that short build-up. That tactic is still very key to his side.

What I have noticed is his awareness that teams are pressing man-for-man in a really aggressive manner. There has been a focus on building through the middle, but also on building out under pressure using the same ideas in wide areas.

Those moves tend to finish with the wingers one-v-one, so De Zerbi is not just using his principles through the middle but also through the wide areas to still arrive in the final third really quickly and really aggressively.

A lot of the top coaches have one set style of play in mind - and De Zerbi has certain principles - but a few years ago he said: "When you're building the play, if the rival doesn't pressure us intensely then we slowly move the ball up the pitch. When they do pressure us, then we can make some passes, dribble and play more vertically."

He is a coach who adapts how his team builds up and plays depending on how the opponent defends, which is slightly more reactive and adaptable.

The biggest challenge is teams will increasingly sit back and almost ask his players to break them down, knowing what De Zerbi prefers to do, so it is all about how he then looks to break down stubborn defences that sit lower.

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Former Tottenham full-back and caretaker manager Chris Hughton says Roberto de Zerbi is a "demanding" but "feel-good factor" head coach.

He also believes the Italian will have a "really good opportunity to build" this season, after guiding the club to Premier League safety on the final matchday of the 2025-26 season with a 1-0 win over Everton.

"First and foremost, to take the job at the time he did was huge pressure in itself," Hughton said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily. "You don't want to be the manager, if only for a few games, that takes a club like Tottenham down.

"For that reason, I would say him taking this job showed he has a lot of confidence in himself. He knew he could do the job and keep the team up.

"I'm quite sure he would've known about the funds that were going to be spent and the players that were going to be brought in this summer. He would've known that if he could keep the club in the division, he would have a really good opportunity to build.

"What I know about him is that he is a very demanding coach. His players speak very well of him. He is not only demanding of his players, but also of his coaching staff. There is real detail in his training sessions.

"You can also see his enthusiasm. He gives his players a real feel-good factor.

"The fact that players are coming through the door now will incredibly lift the spirits in that changing room. He is the type of coach you want to play for."

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Tottenham are considering a move for Paris St-Germain and Ukraine defender Illia Zabarnyi, 23, after selling Cristian Romero to Atletico Madrid. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Fancy testing your football prediction skills? With the new season under way, BBC Sport has just the thing to keep you entertained every week.

After the success of our World Cup Predictor game, we've rebranded it for the club season as Match of the Day Predictor.

It's simple to play - just predict the outcome of the six fixtures we've selected from across domestic and European competitions every week.

And don't worry if you've joined late - players can join at any time, get involved with the latest round and start building a streak.

Once you've submitted your predictions, you'll also be able to see what others think the outcome of the match will be.

Read more about it here

You can find the predictor in the navigation bar at the top of this page, or click here to play

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart believes Andy Robertson can "bring a lot" to Roberto de Zerbi's dressing room this season, despite not being "the player that signed for Liverpool all those years ago".

The 32-year-old left-back announced his Anfield departure in April before joining Tottenham on a free transfer in June.

"He is going to get that whole new responsibility and freshness at Tottenham," Hart said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "Liverpool made their decision early and it felt like it was always Tottenham for him.

"It was a case of: 'Stay up and I'm coming to Spurs'.

"He will have a different responsibility though. Roberto de Zerbi will know how to use him because he isn't the Andy Robertson that signed for Liverpool all those years ago.

"What they do have is a top player and a top professional in the building. They have a player that wants to be there, especially because I think he would've had a few options.

"He will be an absolute leader in that dressing room, alongside still being a very good player, so I do think he can bring a lot.

"It has been the summer for the Premier League kind of coming back to those senior signings, so I think it is really smart business."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal are all interested in Pedro Neto, 26, who joined Chelsea for £54m from Wolves in 2024. (Metro), external

But the Blues want close to £100m if they are to sell the Portugal winger this summer. (Mail - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Image source, Getty Images

Last season, the Premier League was arguably more competitive than it has been for years.

While the 65 points between champions Arsenal and bottom side Wolves was around the average for a 38-game season (63), a real revolution took place in mid-table.

Since the league was reduced to 20 teams in 1995-96, the gap between the top four and the bottom three – between what has often been the Champions League and the Championship – had been increasing as the seasons went by, with the 'bigger' clubs profiting from their European adventures and the extra money they earned by regularly finishing higher in the table.

But last season, the gap between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' of the Premier League dropped from 44 points in 2024-25 to just 26 points – the smallest distance for 23 years (since 25 points in 2002-03).

The European places were more attainable than they had been for years. Despite taking a point fewer than when they finished seventh the season before, Aston Villa clinched Champions League qualification by finishing two places higher.

While Liverpool took the 'bonus' Champions League place by finishing fifth, their points total of 60 was the lowest by a side finishing there for 19 years and would have put them ninth in 2024-25.

Bournemouth and Sunderland also took full advantage of needing fewer points than normal by qualifying for European competition for the first time ever and for over half a century respectively.

Read more on the Premier League's competitive numbers

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We asked for your views on whether Tottenham need to replace Vicario, with the goalkeeper closing in on a loan move to Juventus.

Here are some of your comments:

Aston: We don't need a replacement for Vicario. Ever since Kinsky was made number one, it's clear who the better keeper is. Vic wanted out, he's getting what he wants. We already have enough quality cover in the form of Dubravka and Austin.

Dan: Before the window, I was expecting Vicario to leave and a replacement be brought in. If De Zerbi thinks Kinsky is good enough to be number one, then great. Spence, Romero, Solomon and now Vicario gone - go and spend the money on a goalscorer now please!

Barry: Vic is a great shotstopper but could never really command his box during set-pieces and was never really comfortable with the ball at his feet. It was time to go.

William: It's a shame to see Vicario go as he has done a lot for the club. However, I think his form has been on the decline since this year and the signing of Dubravka has forced Vicario to go elsewhere. It's a shame, but it's necessary.

Jon: Fantastic to move on a keeper who was on the bench. Although he was part of Spurs' Europa League triumph, his shortcomings from crosses and with ball at feet were always too great. Kinsky is clearly first choice, so getting Vicario out the building should boost Kinsky, while keeping Dubravka as a safe back-up. No need to sign anyone else - re-evaluate at the end of a full season, which will make it clear if Kinsky is up to the task long term.